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Editor: I find Republican Senators’ actions (led by Mitch McConnell and supported by Pat Toomey) regarding the Supreme Court vacancy left by Justice Scalia’s death to be disgraceful.

Put the political affiliation of the nominees aside and look at the real issue. Scalia’s death occurred with just under a year left in President Obama’s term, that is, with a quarter of his term remaining.

Article 2 Section 2 Clause 2 of the United States Constitution clearly gives the president the right and duty to nominate a Supreme Court justice when a vacancy occurs during a sitting president’s term.

President Obama nominated a very qualified candidate in Merrick Garland. But the Republican-controlled Senate refused to even give him a hearing.

If through the hearing process Judge Garland proved to be the wrong nominee, then the Senate could have voted not to confirm him and have the president make another nomination. But to deny even a hearing was simply wrong, not fair and therefore un-American.

Donald Trump nominated another qualified candidate, Neil Gorsuch. As one would expect, the Republican-controlled Senate granted a hearing and the Democratic minority threatened a filibuster, all fair play and within the established rules.

But McConnell (with Pat Toomey’s help), with no regard for fair play or probity, changed the rules of the nomination process.

It was a disgraceful act of partisan politics that affected the integrity of the confirmation process and the Senate itself. McConnell’s and Toomey’s actions have permanently damaged the confirmation process and we are now one step further removed from a structure that promotes compromise in Congress. The balance provided by the separation of powers of the three branches of our government has been eroded by this shameful partisan tactic. There is not much that Pennsylvania voters can do about Mitch McConnell, but I hope when voting, we remember Pat Toomey’s contemptible support of McConnell’s actions throughout this process.

Tom Bubul

WEST PITTSTON

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